National Guard deployed in Minneapolis after violent protests
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The US National Guard has been deployed to Minneapolis after two nights of violent clashes following the death of an unarmed black man in police custody.
George Floyd, 46, died on Monday and video showed him gasping for breath as a white policeman knelt on his neck.
A man walks past a burning liquor store across the street from the Minneapolis Police Department 3rd Precinct during protests over the arrest of George Floyd, who later died in police custody, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, 28 May 2020. A bystander’s video posted online on 25 May, appeared to show George Floyd, 46, pleading with arresting officers that he couldn’t breathe as an officer knelt on his neck. The unarmed black man later died in police custody. EPA-EFE/TANNEN MAURY
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz activated the state’s national guard troops on Thursday at the request of the mayors of Minneapolis and nearby St Paul, declaring the situation a “peacetime emergency”.
He said the looting, vandalism and arson of a night earlier had resulted in damage to many businesses, including ones owned by minorities.
Police fired tear gas at protesters as businesses were looted on Wednesday. More protests are planned for Thursday.
There have also been protests in Chicago, Illinois, Los Angeles, California, and Memphis, Tennessee.
The killing added to longstanding anger over the police killings of black Americans, including the recent cases of Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia and Breonna Taylor in Kentucky.
